Laundry apparatus



Feb. 14, 1933. s. H. McKNlGHT LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 ,LJATTQRNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL E. MCKNIGHT, OE JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, INC., 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ILA'U'IYI'DRY APPARATUS Application filed December 19, 1927. Serial No. 241,081.

This invention relates to laundry apparatus and particularly to a washing machine and the method of operating the same.

In operating washing machines of the power driven ty e, it is necessary to subject the garments to e washed to various baths, for example, bleaching, rinsing, etc., and in order that the proper treatment of the garments may be achieved it is requisite that the baths contain as accurately as redetermined mixtures of the washing, leaching materials or the like, with the requisite amount of water. It has also been found that the garments are most efiiciently washed when the various baths are maintained at a fixed and predetermined temperature. Heretofore the practice has been to just charge the interior of the machine with the garments, then admitting a sufficient quantity of water and subsequently admitting the washing material. This method, however, presents serious disadvantages which it is proposed to overcome by the present invention. For example, one disadvantage resides in the fact that unless much precaution is exercised the admission of the washing material into the interior will change the temperature of the water contained therein. As a result even when the machine is equipped with thermometric means for ascertaining the temperature of the liquid therein the attendant must strive by a process of trial and error at the proper mixture and temperature. 7 Another disadantage is that the washing material, which in most cases contains active chemical substances, being admitted directly into the interior of the machine is liable to injuriously affect the garments before becoming mixed with the water.

Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a washing machine wherein the washing may be effected expeditiously, economically and different batches of clothes may be subjected to uniform washing conditions.

A feature of the invention relates to a washing machine having associated therewith means for storing, during the operation of the machine a mixture of washing possible.

materials with a quantity of water suflicient for an ensuing washing operation. In ac: cordance,with this feature continuity of the washing operation is achieved since there is always a predetermined quantity of the mixture ready for each operation. p

A further feature of the invention is the method of thoroughly mixing washing materials with the proper quantity of water prior to discharge thereof into the interior of the machine, thus preventing the chemicals in the washing material from attacking the garments.

Another feature pertains to means for preparing in advance of each washing operation a thorough mixture of water and washing materials together with means for autodetermined and uniform temperature sothat upon its discharge into the machine the garments will be uniformly treated.

A still further feature pertains to a device matically maintaining the mixture at a precapable of being attached to any standard washing machine and providing a reservoir for storing a predetermined quantity of water and washing materials, said reservoir being provided on the interior thereof with means effecting a thorough mixing of the water and said materials together with means for uniformly heating the contents of said reservoir.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will become apparent after a consideration of the following description and the appended claims.

The invention is disclosed hereinafter and in the accompanying drawing as applied to one well known type of washin machine, but it will be understood that the s owing in this respect is merely for the purpose of enabling a clear understanding to be attained of one mode of carrying out the invention which in its broad aspects is independent. of any particular structure of washing machine.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view, from the rear, of a washing machine embodying a mixer according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1 showing one premixing chamber ferred manner of mounting the mixer on the rear of the machine and the relative positioning of the various parts.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2 and the interior of the mixer together with the various Valves and controls.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the washing machine proper is of the horizontal rotating-cylinder t pe and comprises an outer cylindrical casing 1 securely mounted upon appropriate legs 2, 3 and 4. This casing, as is well known, serves as a water container and is provided at its lowermost portion with a discharge orifice 12 within which is seated the valve 13. For the purpose of opening and closing valve 13 there is provided a suitable mechanism such, for example, as the cam 14 secured to rod 15 which extends below the machine and is supported in suitable brackets 16. Rod 15 is adapted to be rotated by depressing treadle 17 situated in front of the machine thus enabling the attendant to conveniently 0 en and close the discharge valve. Rotata ly mounted within the casing 1 is the perforated drum 5 which may be of any well known construction and is provided with suitable'end portions or trunnions to enable said drum to e supported and rotated within the casing 1. Secured to one of the trunnions is the main gear 7 which cooperates with gears 8 and 9 to drive the drum at the required speed, the motive power for this purpose being transmitted from motor 11 through shaft 10, said motor and shaft being appropriately mounted upon extensions attached to the casing 1, it being understood that shaft 10 is connected'to mot r 11 through reducin gears as shown. As shown in Fig. 1 all the driving gears at the right-hand end of the machine are enclosed within casings. The structure above described represents one type of machine that is well known in the art and further description is not required herein.

Th ends upwardly and rearwardly extending brackets 17 which at their ends are connected together by a bar 17a serving to support the of the invention. The mixer proper consists of a casing 21 preferably of metal which is unattacked by the washin fluids to be used, such, for example, as Mone metal or the like. As will be clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 2, the mixer casing instead of bein rectangular in cross-section has a portion 0% its inner face concave to correspond to the shape of the outer casing 1 and is supported by members 17 and 17a to which it is suitably secured by appropriate means such as angle brackets 19' and 20 at both ends. If desired, the curved portion of the mixer casing may bepermanently secured to the outer casing 1. -However, in order that the invention may be easily applied to washe casing 1 has fastened thereto at bothq,

ing machines, this latter feature is not neces" sary as the curved portion of the casing together with the manner of attaching to the members 17 and 17a is sufficient to prevent relative movement between the mixer and the casing 1.

The main shaft 10 is provided with a bevel gear 28 which cooperates with another bevel gear 29 aflixed to the upper end of a shaft 30 which extends downwardly through an opening in the top of the mixer. Suitable bearing and supporting means for the shaft 30 are provided comprising a member 31 which may be riveted or bolted, as shown in Fig. 2 to the inner face of the mixer. The lower end of shaft 30 is also provided with a bevel gear 31 which cooperates'with bevel gear 33 to drive shaft 35, said shaft being supported in a suitable bearing fastened to the inner face of the mixer, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Shaft 35 at its left-hand end carries a fan or agitator 36 for creating a current in the washing or rinsing solution contained within the mixer. In order that this current may extend to all parts of the liquid contents and without unnecessary churning, the fan 36 is surrounded by the plate 53 having a circular hole therein in which the fan blades rotate. Furthermore, the interior of the tank is divided into two substantially equal portions by the sloping plate 52 which is secured to the top of the,

casing 21, but does not extend to the bottom thereof. ,As shown in Fig. 3, plate 52 does not extend the complete length of the tank, providing a path at both ends of the tank for the circulation of the liquid contents. In order to insure that, during the travel of the liquids around the tank, the water becomes thoroughly mixed with the washing material there are provided a number of battle plates 47, 48, 49 and 50. Plates 48 and 49 are attached to the walls of the tank while the plates 47 and 50 are attached to opposite sides of plate 52, the relative locations of the several plates being clearly shown in Fig. 3 wherein the arrows indicate the general direction of flow of the liquid contents. The bottom of the mixer tank is provided with a discharge outlet connected by conduit 23 to an opening 24 in the casing 1. The discharge outlet is closed by valve 25 which may be operated by a cam 26 fastened to shaft 27, said shaft extending horizontally, in the rear of the machine and being provided with a handle 18 extending toward the front of the machine whereby the attendant may conveniently open the valve to enable the contents of the mlxer to be discharged into the interior of washing machines of the i prior art wherein the washing mixture is discharged into the machine through relatively small valves.

For the purpose of char ing the mixer with the proper rinsing or was ing solution there are provided the hot and cold water pipes 37 and 37a which lead to a common pipe 38 and are provided with a suitable valve 39 for enabling any desired proportio'nof hot and cold waters to flow into the mixer. Appropriately mounted above the mixer is the container 40 which is filled with the re uired amount of washing material to be use said container communicating with an inlet 41 in the upper side face of the, mixer and being provided with a valve 42 for cutting off the supply of washing solution. The mixer proper is provided'with a valve float chamber 42 which communicates at its lower end with the interior of the mixer and is provided with an upwardly extending arm 43 attached to the float to automatically shut olf the supply of water when the level of solution in the mixer tank reaches a predetermined level.

For the purpose of heating the mixture of water and washing solution that. has been admitted into the tank there are provided ly.b the numeral 46. As is well known in the aundry art most eflicient results are obtained when the washing solution is at a uniform and definite temperature and for this purpose the thermostat 46 is so adjusted that when the washing solution reaches this predetermined temperature the valve. 45 is automatically operated to prevent further heat being transferred to the solution. Devices of this latter character are well known to the art and detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary. The method of operating the combined, mixer and washer is as follows: The attendant places the garments to be washed within the drum 5, it being understood that appropriate sliding doors such as 55 are provided on the outer casing as well as on the drum 5 for this purpose. These doors are then closed and assuming valves 13 and 25 .to be closed, the attendant operates valve 54 to admit a predetermined quantity of washing solution from the container 40 into the interior of the mixer and at the same time valve 39 is turned to admit the proper mixture of hot and cold water into the tank. The valve float chamber 42 having been previously adjusted so that when the water n the tank reaches the proper level, the sad valve is automatically closed to prevent further entry of water. The power is then conthe tank preparatory to and ready for the next washmg operatlon. After the washing operation is completed the power is turned off and the attendant depresses treadle 16 to allow the water to flow out from the casing 1, after which the valve 13 is again closed, as above described, and the machine is ready for the next washing operation. From the foregoing description it will be seen that a quantity of washing solution may be thoroughly prepared and mixed in the tank durin the actual washing operation of the machine and the same source of power used for driving the washer is used for effecting the mixing of the water and washing solution, thus effecting economy in operation and saving of time in washing. Furthermore, because of the various controls predetermining exactly the amount of liquid that is stored at any one time in the tank, and the temperature thereof, together with the fact that the solution is thoroughly mixed and passes into the casing 1 through a very large inlet, it is clear that more uniform washing conditions can be attained than has heretofore been possible, and the likelihood of damage to the garments from the chemicals in the washing materials is reduced to a minimum.

While one specific embodiment has been disclosed, it is understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a washing chamber formed upon said frame in which a washing operation is performed and which for each operation receives and holds a predetermined quantity of a washing mixture, a tank formed upon said frame in close juxtaposition to said washing chamber and elevated above the liquid level in said washing chamber, a washing agent receptacle, means to deliver from said receptacle to said tank a predetermined charge of the washing agent, means for delivering to and automatlcally limiting the supply of water to saidwashmg agent toform the quantity of washing mixture required for a single washing operation in said washing chamber, means in sald tank for thoroughly mixing together the washing agent and water within said tank, and means for rapidly emptying the whole of the maxture contained in said tank directly into said washing chamber.

2. In a washing machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a washing chamber formed upon said frame in which a washing operation is performed and which for each operation receives and holds a predetermined quantity of a washing mixture, a tank formed upon said frame in close juxtaposition to said washing chamber and elevated above the liquid level in said washing chamber, a washing agent receptacle, means to deliver from said receptacle to said tank a predetermined charge of the washing agent, 35 means for delivering to and automatically limiting the supply ofwater to said washing agent to form the quantity of washing mixture required for a single washing operation in said washing chamber, means in said tank for thoroughly mixing together the washing agent and water within said tank, means for rapidly emptying the whole of the mixture contained in said tank directly into said washing chamber, heating means in said tank, and

means controlling said heating means so that the successive charges delivered from said tank to the washing chamber will be of uniform temperature.

3. In a washing machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a washing chamber formed upon said frame in which a washing operation is performed and which for each operation receives and holds a predetermined quantity of a washing mixture, a tank formed upon said frame in close juxtaposition to said Washing chamber and elevated above the liquid level in said washing chamber, awashing agent receptacle, means to deliver from said receptacle to said tank a predetermined charge of the washing agent, means for delivering to and automatically limiting the supply of water to said washing agent to form the quantity of washing mixture required for a single washing operation in said washing chamber, movable means for imparting movement to the solution within said tank, means for causing the moving solution to circulate within said tank, means for repeatedly changing-the direction of flow of the circulating solution, and means for rapidly emptying the wholeof the mixture contained'in said tank directly into said washing chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this 14th day of December 1927. 4

SAMUELH. MOKNIGHT. 

